A Cap-Tivating Ride

Super Mario Odyssey

- Michael Low

As someone who grew up playing all of the mainline Mario games (including the portable ones), I can confidently say that Super Mario Odyssey is the first 3D open-world sandbox game in the franchise to truly click with me. That’s not to discount the importance of Super Mario 64 in the history of video games. Not only did the N64 entry usher the series into the third dimension, it also recognized the potential of mission-based level design and full analog controls. Six years later, Super Mario Sunshine attempted to shake things up by basing the game around jetpack and water-spray mechanics, but it lacked the polish we’ve come to expect from Nintendo, from clumsy camera and aiming controls, to confusing objectives and uninspiring missions.